Flash-lamp.



Patented May 6, 1902.

6. COLLARD.

.FLASH LAMP.

a w k iL a 55113 5 .l A v x MN W:

ATTORWEYS.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE OOLLARD, OF SLOUGH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO ARTHUR GLADIVELL, OF SLOUGII, ENGLAND.

FLASH-LLAMP.

sienornroarrom forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,452, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed September 16, 1901. Serial No. 751589. (N0 model-l To (all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE COLLARD, of Tylney Villa, Vellington street, Slough, in the county of Buckingham, England, have invented a Flash-Lamp to be Used for Photographic and other Purposes, such as Producing Stage Effects; and I do hereby'declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it. appertai us to make and use the same.

The device consists of a construction whereby a charge of finely-divided material which is quick burning and which possesses intense illuminating power may with great velocity be suddently ejected through the flame of a spirit-lamp into the air from an elongated narrow tray which is first impelled by the force of constrained springs which are released by a trigger at the will of the operator and then suddenly stopped, whereby a sheet of flame is produced which emits a momentarily brilliant'light.

The annexed drawings, which form a portion of my specification, show the exact shape and detail of the apparatus by which, as far as I at present know, the operations which I have described may be most elfeotively performed.

Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation taken through the center of the apparatus, showing the tray in the raised position in which it would be situated for the purpose of charging it with the inflammable powder and also its position at the instant it is suddenly stopped. Fig. 2 is an end sectional elevation taken through the center of the length, showing the apparatus ready for firing. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the portion consisting of the tray, the headpiece to which the tray is fastened, (this being in section,) and the stop bolts and nuts. Fig. at is a plan of the tray. Fig. 5 is an oblique View of the spring loop and trigger. Fig. 6 is a transverse section showing a modification in the construction of the tray to provide for the succession of flashes.

In the figures, T is along'narrow tray shown charged'with magnesium powder, which is distributed uniformly along its length. The tray is fastened by screws to a sliding headpiece H, which is capable of movement in a vertical direction, beingguided by the sides of the ejector E. At a lower level a floorpiece F is secured to the sides of the ejector E. Intel-posed between these two pieces H and F are two helical springs S and Siwhich, resting on the fixed floor F, tend to force the sliding head 11 and the tray above it upward. The upward movement is limited by the use of two stop-bolts B and B The bolts are threaded through holes bored opposite one another in both Hand F and are screwed into nuts N and N which are sunk inr'ecesses provided in the upper side of II, the recesses fitting the nuts andpreventing them from turning. The heads of the bolts are underneath the floor F, leather washers being interposed to deaden the noise of the blow which would be produced if they came in contact. The bolts are also passed through the helical springs S 8, and thus serve to retain them in place.

The headpiece H and tray are detained in the lower position shown in Fig. 2, the springs being then compressed-by means of the'hook K, which is secured to the sliding head H, and the loop L, which is secured to the'base of the ejecting apparatus. The loop is made of springsteel wire which before tempering is bent to the form shown in'the figures. The oblique view shown in Fig. oshowsthe form most clearly. The shape adopted facilitates the attachment of the wire to the base of the apparatus by a plate P and screws'in such a way that the resilience of the wire will tend to cause the loop to move to the right in Fig. 2 and hitch itself onto the hook K when the latter is forced downward sufficient-1y far. Also the ends of the wire being inserted into small holes in the trigger-plate J the movement to the right is limited, and the loop is held in sncha position as to be ready to slip over the hook when it is forced down.

The trigger-plate J is pivoted at J, and on being pulled by astring attached ,to'J itis moved into the dotted position andpulls the loop L from the hook K, whichisthereby released. I p

Entirely around the periphery of the orifice at the top of the ejecting apparatusa narrow chamber or recess R is provided, of width just sutflcient to hold a wick W, there being also a passage Q leading around the wick from two supply-tubes O and C In this way the wick, which entirely surrounds the opening through which the magnesium powder is ejected, can be saturated with spirit. The lower edge of the wick is bound with a narrow strip of thin metal bent around it, the spring of which retains the wick securely in place. When lightcd, the flames from the wick on the two sides of the orifice will be drawn together on account of the air-supply being only on the outside, and thus a mantle of flame will completely cover the orifice of discharge.

To facilitate the production of a succession of flashes without the necessity of recharging each time, the tray may be constructed with one or more shelves, as shown in Fig. 6, each carrying a layer of the magnesium powder. It will be from theuppermost shelf only that the powder will be ejected. When that has been discharged, the top shelf may be withdrawn through a slit at the end, exposing the next layer, and so on.

To use the apparatus, the tray '1 is first charged with the magnesium powder,and then the springs are com pressed by applying sufficient force to the two handles Y and Y to push down the sliding head H until the loop L slips over the hook K and detains it. The wick having been saturated with spirit is then lighted, and the apparatus is ready for firing. On pulling the trigger at J the hook K will be released and permit the springs S antlS to force the tray T upward with increasing velocity until itis suddenly arrested by the heads of the boltsB and B coming in contact with the under surface of the floorpiece F. The magnesium powder lying loose in the tray having acquired a considerable velocity will continue its motion upward and be ejected through the mantle of pale flame which covers the orifice and be ignited and produce a sheet of flame ofintense brilliance. After the flash the flame of the wick may be extinguished bya cover.

It is not essential to the successful working of my invention to follow the construction I havedescribedin everydetail. Forinstance, the piece to which the tray is attached or the tray itself may be hinged at one end and be compelled to swing forcibly against a stop and so jerk the powder into the air.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A flash-lamp comprising a narrow elongated tray, an ejector-casing in which said tray ismoved, vertically, springs within said casing for moving the tray upward in said casing, a trigger mechanism for holding the tray with the springs compressed at a point considerably within the casing and stops or abutments for limiting the outward movementof the tray, said casing having at its upper end about its elongated mouth a narrow channel extending about it for a wick and for receiving a combustible fluid, substantially as described.

2. A flash-lamp comprising a narrow elongated tray, an ejector-casing in which said tray is moved vertically, springs within said casing for moving the tray upward. in said casing, a trigger mechanism for holding the tray with the springs compressed at a point considerably within the casing and stops or abutments for limiting the outward movement of the tray, said casing having at its upper end about its elongated mouth a narrow channel extending about it for a wick and for receiving a combustible fluid, said stops comprising bolts connected with the tray and disposed at different points along the same, and a floor against which the bolt-heads strike, said trigger mechanism being arranged substantially centrally of the tray, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE COLLARD.

Witnesses:

Row. A. BLAKE, W. M. HARRIS. 

